Budgeting for a New Normal: What Should You Be Prioritizing?

As the commercial real estate industry continues to endure an extended period of unprecedented uncertainty for building operations, building owners and managers also are gearing up for the challenge of preparing their 2021 budgets. In July, BOMA International partnered with Propmodo on a research initiative designed to explore budget priorities for 2021, surveying a broad group of commercial building owners, asset managers and property managers. This webinar will feature veteran research and property professionals discussing the just-released results and offering perspectives on how to get ready for the year ahead.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discover how commercial building owners and managers are sizing up 2021 operating expenses

2. Find out which investments owners and asset managers are prioritizing

3. Learn how property managers plan to adjust operations and tenant outreach in the times of COVID-19 and beyond

4. Discover how to best use industry insights and research to prepare for 2021

Rob Brierley, BOMA Fellow

Vice President, Property Management, Bulfinch

Rob is the Vice President, Property Management for Bulfinch, a Boston based third-generation commercial real estate firm specializing in the acquisition, development, repositioning, and management of first-class properties. In his role as Vice President, Rob supports property management throughout the Bulfinch portfolio, with a particular emphasis on the Bulfinch Life Sciences portfolio, to ensure that the Bulfinch properties – and its’ tenants – receive the highest level of service, consistent with the Bulfinch mission.

With over 25 years of experience, Rob brings extensive expertise and a proven track record, during his career, of implementing industry best practices and overseeing operational and property management services at a variety of commercial real estate firms in Boston, including serving as Managing Director of REMS (Real Estate Management Services) and Executive Vice President of Colliers Boston, Vice President, Operations and Boston Market Leader with Brookfield Office Properties, and leadership roles with Equity Office Properties, Beacon Properties and Gilbane Properties. Brierley is a Past Chairman and CEO of BOMA International, a global organization with over 18,000 members worldwide. Rob is also a past two-term President of BOMA/Boston and a past Chairman of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB). He is also active in various professional associations, including the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. Within the BOMA organization, he has received multiple awards and recognitions throughout the years, including, but not limited to his 2012 inauguration into a class of BOMA Fellows, his 2014 BOMA International Chairman’s Award, and his 2014 BOMA/Boston President’s Award.

Todd Mitchell

Director, Property Management

As a Director, Property Management for Bridge Commercial Real Estate, Todd Mitchell provides operational and financial leadership to the property management teams throughout the portfolio. A seasoned commercial real estate executive, he also assists with the development of strategic priorities and objectives for the property management team,

Prior to joining Bridge Commercial Real Estate in 2020, Mr. Mitchell was Director, National Property Management for Columbia Property Trust, and Vice President and General Manager, Atlanta, for Wells Real Estate where he led various aspects of property management from corporate implementations to communications, supply chain initiatives, vendor relationships and asset management support. In 2004, Mr. Mitchell founded IssaMAX, a real estate development company with a focus on mixed use developments.

Mr. Mitchell is a member of CCIM Institute and BOMA, where he served as the 2017 President for BOMA/Georgia.

Phil Mobley (Moderator)

Founder and Principal, Koine Communications

Phil Mobley has served the commercial real estate (CRE) industry for over 15 years. He is a researcher and thought leader who, as Founder and Principal of Koine Communications, establishes market positioning for clients based on analysis of industry trends, particularly as they relate to tenant engagement.In his former role as Head of Research and Tenant Experience at Building Engines, Phil drove several major industry-wide research efforts, including The State of CRE Operations, The Tenant Experience Gap, and CRE Technology Trends, the last of which was conducted in partnership with BOMA International. He is also an accomplished Proptech innovator, having led the team of software engineers that created Bengie™, an AI-based "virtual building assistant" that was the first of its kind in CRE. Phil is a frequent keynote speaker and educational presenter at conferences and events and regularly contributes to industry trade publications. He is a former board member for BOMA/Georgia and is currently active in BOMA/Boston, as well as BOMA International.

Luci Smith, BOMA Fellow, RPA, FMA

Director of Property Management

Link Industrial Properties

Luci Smith, BOMA Fellow, RPA, FMA, is the Director of Property Management for the Southeast at Link Industrial Properties. She oversees over 100mm square feet of industrial and office properties, interacting daily with the 3rd party management companies. Ms. Smith has been an active BOMA member since 2005. She currently sits on the BOMA International Executive Committee as a Director and is Co-Chair of the 2020 BOMA Southern Region Conference being held in Orlando, Florida. In addition to aiding BOMA International’s Education Committee, Ms. Smith has taught numerous RPA, Leadership and Industrial courses over the past 10 years. Industrial Management has been her specialty throughout her career, which has led to her participation in creating the BOMA International Industrial Committee, BOMA/Orlando Industrial Team and the “Round Robin” event they hold.